Shakespeare's Globe

The modern reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe officially opened to the public in 1997. It was built near its historic site on Bankside in the London Borough of Southwark.

The extensive campaign to rebuild the Globe was spearheaded by the American actor and director Sam Wanamaker. He began his efforts in 1949 and worked tirelessly for decades to see the faithful reconstruction completed before his death in 1993.

While it is a highly researched approximation of the original 1599 Globe Theatre, it is not an exact replica due to a lack of surviving blueprints. However, it successfully recreates the open-air, thrust-stage experience of an Elizabethan playhouse using traditional materials like oak and thatch.

Since the theatre is an open-air reconstruction, weather directly impacts the performance and the audience. 'Groundlings' who stand in the yard are exposed to the elements, meaning performances continue in the rain, though umbrellas are typically prohibited as they block sightlines.